Apra Silver Scroll Awards 2024: Winners crowned in Wellington

Anna Coddington's song Kātuarehe has won the 2024 Apra Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka.

Māori funk single Kātuarehe has won the coveted Apra Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka for 2024.

The song, written by Anna Coddington, Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith and Kawiti Waetford, was awarded the honour at Wellington’s Saint James Theatre during a night that celebrated outstanding achievements in New Zealand music.

Taking home the Apra Maioha Award Tohu Maioha, which celebrates outstanding waiata (songs), was Jordyn with a Why’s He Rei Niho, written by Jordyn Rapana, Ruth Smith, Dan Martin and Kawiti Waetford.

The award for excellence in contemporary composition, the Sounz Contemporary Award Te Tohu Auaha, went to Nathaniel Otley’s the convergence of oceans, for orchestra.

The Best Original Music in a Series Award Tohu Paerangi went to Karl Sölve Steven and Rob Thorne for Black Coast Vanishings.

Solve Steven also took home a second award, alongside Jason Smith, with their work for Never Look Away, the Best Original Music in a Feature Film Award Tohu Pūmanawa.

Meanwhile, pioneering Kiwi jazz musician and composer Mike Nock (ONZM) was inducted into Te Whare Taonga Puoro o Aotearoa The NZ Music Hall of Fame.

Hosted by Bret McKenzie and Lisa Tomlins, the evening also saw an array of performances and tributes from some of New Zealand’s best talent.

2024 Apra Silver Scroll Award | Kaitito Kaiaka

• WINNER: Kātuarehe, written by Anna Coddington, Noema Te Hau III, Ruth Smith and Kawiti Waetford, performed by Anna Coddington.
• Top-five finalist: I Am written by Stan Walker, Vince Harder, Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, and Michael Fatkin, performed by Stan Walker.
• Top-five finalist: I Like To Be Alone, written by Gussie Larkin, Lily Paris West and Abraham Hollingsworth, performed by Mermaidens.
• Top-five finalist: Jenny Greenteeth, written by Chelsea Prastiti, Michael Howell, Tom Dennison and Adam Tobeck, performed by Skilaa.
• Top-five finalist: The Letter, written by Georgia Lines, Whakaio Taahi and Patrick Manning, performed by Georgia Lines.
• Finalist: A World Without You, written by Alayna Powley and Devin Abrams, performed by alayna.
• Finalist: Been and Gone, written and performed by Louis Baker and Wallace (Gollan).
• Finalist: Boy, written by Joe Locke and performed by P.H.F.
• Finalist: Choose Me, written by Katie Everingham and Jonathan Pearce, performed by Dateline.
• Finalist: Kārearea, written by Mohi Allen, Noema Te Hau III and Rukuwai Allen, performed by Mohi.
• Finalist: Learning, written by Jordan Rakei, Linden Jay Berelowitz and Mike Lesirge, performed by Jordan Rakei.
• Finalist: Māhoe me Patatē, written by Emily and Charles Looker, performed by Aro.
• Finalist: Māori Ki Te Ao, written by Stan Walker, Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, Matthew Sadgrove, Rio Panapa, Hugh Lake and Fasika Ayallew, performed by Stan Walker.
• Finalist: March 12, written by Rebecca Mason Melrose and Harry Huavi, performed by Haz and Miloux.
• Finalist: Paradise, written by Clark Mathews, Daniel Vernon, Christan Pianta, and Hakopa Kuka-Larsen, performed by Dartz.
• Finalist: Run It Back, written by Tom Scott and Harry Huavi, performed by Home Brew.
• Finalist: Running Amuck, written and performed by Byllie-jean.
• Finalist: She, written and performed by Aaradhna.
• Finalist: Suit of Blue, written by Luca George, Harry Charles and Rita Laing, performed by Luca George.
• Finalist: Whai Ora, written by Seth Haapu and Hana Mereraiha, performed by Seth Haapu.

Maioha Award

• WINNER: He Rei Niho, written by Jordyn Rapana, Ruth Smith, Dan Martin and Kawiti Waetford, performed by Jordyn with a Why.
• Top-three finalist: He Aho, written by Tawaroa Kawana and Te Kura Kaupapa Māori o Mana Tamariki, performed by Tawaz.
• Top-three finalist: Māori Ki Te Ao, written by Stan Walker, Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, Matthew Sadgrove, Rio Panapa, Hugh Lake and Fasika Ayallew, performed by Stan Walker.
• Finalist: Apakura’s Call (Remember Me), written by Victor Sulfa, performed by Hawkins feat. Maria Te Aukaha Huata.
• Finalist: I Am, written by Stan Walker, Vince Harder, Donny Te Kanapu Anasta, and Michael Fatkin, performed by Stan Walker.

Sounz Contemporary Award | Te Tohu Auaha

• WINNER: the convergence of oceans by Nathaniel Otley, for orchestra.
• Finalist: In All Directions by Karlo Margetic for orchestra.
• Finalist: Mirror Traps by Ihlara McIndoe, featuring text by Hera Lindsay Bird, for soprano and chamber ensemble.

Apra Best Original Music in a Film Award | Tohu Pūmanawa

• WINNER: Karl Solve Steven and Jason Smith for Never Look Away.
• Finalist: Arli Liberman and Troy Kingi for The Mountain.
• Finalist: Dana Lund for Joika.
• Finalist: Karl Sölve Steven for Uproar.

Apra Best Original Music in a Series Award | Tohu Paerangi

• WINNER: Karl Solve Steven and Rob Thorne for Black Coast Vanishings.
• Finalist: David Feauai-Afaese and Navakatoa Tekela-Pule (Hanisi Garue) for season two of Still Here.
• Finalist: Karl Sölve Steven for Testify.

Best Jazz Composition Award winner

• Satellites composed by Lucien Johnson, performed by Lucien Johnson

2024 Apra Amcos NZ Music Hall of Fame inductee

Kiwi jazz musician and composer Mike Nock (ONZM) was inducted into the Apra Amcos NZ Music Hall of Fame, with the event screening a documentary about the 84-year-old’s work alongside a live tribute.

“Mike has been an inspiration. He has shown people that creativity, and in particular music, is a universal language. He’s taken that message from here to around the world, leading the way for New Zealand artists everywhere, encouraging and empowering them to do the same,” Anthony Healey, head of Apra Amcos Aotearoa, told media.

“To his fellow musicians here in Aotearoa, Mike shows enduring generosity and support. He leads by example as an artist, with a call to arms that is enduringly passionate. We can’t think of a better person to celebrate and honour as an example of what has made our musical landscape what it is, and an example of what we can all aspire to.”

Nock’s composition Land of the Long White Cloud was performed at the show by Leonardo Coghini and the Virtuoso Strings.

This story has been updated to include the winner of the Best Jazz Composition Award.